Testify

John 5:30-42 

[30]"I can do nothing on my own. As I hear, I judge, and my judgment is just, because I seek not my own will but the will of him who sent me. [31] If I alone bear witness about myself, my testimony is not deemed true. [32] There is another who bears witness about me, and I know that the testimony that he bears about me is true. [33]. You sent to John and he has borne witness to the truth. [34] Not that the testimony that I receive is from man, but I say these things so that you may be saved. [35] He was a burning and shining lamp, and you were willing to rejoice for a while in his light. [36] But the testimony that I have is greater than that of John. For the works that the Father has given me to accomplish, the very works that I am doing, bear witness about me that the Father has sent me. [37] And the Father who sent me has himself borne witness about me. His voice you have never heard, his form you have never seen, [38] and you do not have his word abiding in you, for you do not believe the one whom he has sent. [39] You search the Scriptures because you think that in them you have eternal life; and it is they that bear witness about me, [40] yet you refuse to come to me that you may have life. [41] I do not receive glory from people. [42] But I know that you do not have the love of God within you. [43] I have come in my Father's name, and you do not receive me. If another comes in his own name, you will receive him. [44] How can you believe, when you receive glory from one another and do not seek the glory that comes from the only God? [45] Do not think that I will accuse you to the Father. There is one who accuses you: Moses, on whom you have set your hope. [46] For if you believed Moses, you would believe me; for he wrote of me. [47] But if you do not believe his writings, how will you believe my words?"

- John 5:30-32, 34-47 (ESV)

Jesus begins this final dialogue in this chapter by being very specific about his relationship with His Father. He defines for those who are listening that he does nothing on his own.  

This is a bizarre concept, especially in a culture that puts "self" at center stage. Bookstores as well as the internet encourage all types of self help methods. Self esteem, self love, self encouragement, self satisfaction at every level and the list goes on and on regarding the essence of self saturation that the culture pursues and embraces.

Not Jesus, he could do nothing on his own. He loved and needed the Father. Further, Jesus stated that he did not seek his own will, but the will of the Father, who had sent him. Remember from the earlier passage that Jesus is not simply referencing this relationship piece as the Son of God, His divinity, but rather as the Son of Man, his humanity.

Yes, he is all God and there is fabric of divinity between he, the Father and the Holy Spirit that was intertwined, but he was also Son of Man and in his humanity he learned to nurture and cultivate this deep fellowship with his Father.

An important piece of this nurturing was what he sought or rather what he did not seek. He did not seek his own will (what I want, what I feel, what I think). So much of my seeking is flavored with all these components.   This is not because I do not desire the will of the Father, it is simply because I have not learned to completely surrender my own will to his.

Jesus sought His Father's will, he savored His Father's will and He Surrendered to His Father's will. Throughout this passage you also see that the Father and the Son testify about each other, but more specifically the Father uses others and the words and deeds of Jesus to testify that the Father sent Jesus, as his own son into the world.

May we not seek our own will but the will of the the Father. May we seek, savor and surrender to the Father's will. And may our words and deeds testify about Jesus in every facet and detail of our lives.

To Him be all honor, praise and glory.

For His Glory and His Kingdom!!!

- Written by Steve Shives